A Japanese couple offer prayers for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture on March 11, 2012. A new study by Maplecroft risk analysis firm says emerging Asian economies face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters. The study suggests that the limited ability of some Asian states has left them exposed to “major destructive natural hazards, such... 

Japanese women sort through freshly caught fish at the Hirakata fish market in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki prefecture, south of the stricken Fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant number 1 on April 6, 2011 Harmless traces of radioactive cesium have been discovered in fish and seawater in several areas of Japan, as the country continues to debate whether their fish is safe to consume and anti-nuke protests... 

Former No.1: Japanese women enjoyed the longest average lifespan for 26 years until being usurped by counterparts from Hong Kong For 26 years Japanese women have been blessed with the world’s longest life expectancy, being able to look forward to an average age of 86.3 years. But last year they lost their longevity crown, and the Japanese government has blamed the 2011 earthquake and tsunami... 

A company charged with decontaminating the devastated Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant encouraged its workers to falsely lower their radiation dosimeter readings by covering the devices with lead, according to a leaked tape of an internal meeting. Nuclear plant workers are not allowed to be exposed to more than 50 millisieverts of radiation a year. But managers at Build-up, a company that provided insulation... 

­It’s been over a year since natural disaster ravaged a nuclear plant in Fukushima and interrupted the lives of millions of Japanese. Scientists now fear though that contaminated water is on course to America, and it could be more toxic than thought. Researchers have released the findings of an intense study into the aftermath of last year’s Fukushima nuclear disaster and warn that the United... 

The skyline of Osaka, Japan The Japanese government is considering unparalleled counter-measures to withstand the inevitable earthquakes and tsunamis awaiting Japan in the future. Experts propose preparation of emergency government offices in the country’s five major cities. ­One of the main anti-earthquake emergency measures proposed by the Central Disaster Prevention Council is a recommendation... 

This file handout picture released from Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) on March 22, 2011 shows workers spraying water to cool down the spent nuclear fuel in the fourth reactor building at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the town of Okuma. A Japanese parliamentary panel has found that the incident at Fukushima nuclear plant has been a “man-made disaster” and not only due to the... 

A truly frightening “Red Alert” report prepared by Health Care Minister Veronika Skvortsova on the mysterious deaths of nearly 200 children in the Indian State of Bihar earlier this month says that our world has suffered its first “nano-disaster” and warns that an “apocalyptic event” involving nanotechnology is much nearer than anyone will admit. Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to... 

Treasure: Pieces of glass jewellery believed to have been made by Roman craftsmen were discovered in a 5th century burial ground in Kyoto, western Japan Glass jewellery believed to have been made by Roman craftsmen has been found in an ancient tomb in Japan. In a sign the empire’s influence may have reached the edge of Asia, three glass beads discovered in the 5th Century ‘Utsukushi’... 

Japan’s lower house of parliament has endorsed a bill which authorizes the Japanese government to insure shipments of Iranian crude oil imports, in an attempt to counter US-led EU insurance bans against Iran, Press TV reports. The lower house of Japan’s parliament which is mostly comprised of opposition lawmakers passed the bill on Friday to enable Tokyo to provide USD 7.6 billion insurance... 

Japanese authorities failed to disclose US data on the spread of radiation from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant last year, a cabinet minister says. This left some evacuees fleeing in the same direction as the radioactive emissions, media report. ­The March 11, 2011 tsunami and earthquake partially wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant north of Tokyo. 160,000 people fled the ensuing worst nuclear... 

TEPCO’s new estimates suggest that its Fukushima reactor has released more than quadruple the amount of radioactive cesium-137 leaked during the Chernobyl disaster. But the method used to measure the damage may undervalue the hazard even further. ­Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s revised report suggests that in total, around 760,000 terabecquerels (TBq) were discharged into the atmosphere since... 

An Iranian oil tanker The South Korean Economy Ministry says Seoul and Tokyo have asked the European Union to extend insurance contracts on tankers carrying Iranian crude after the bloc’s oil embargo comes into effect on July 1. “To the EU members, we explained the problems that could be caused to non-EU members by the EU insurance embargo,” the ministry said in a Monday statement. “In close... 

The Japanese town of Ohi has deemed it necessary to restart its two nuclear reactors, citing imminent power shortages. But Robert Jacobs, a professor of nuclear history, told RT the move is meant to avert investment losses in the nuclear sector. The Ohi town assembly defended the decision to put the reactors back online, citing potential damage to the local economy and the rise in unemployment the... 

A government survey says the Japanese youth are the most likely to think about killing themselves while one quarter of the whole population have considered suicide. According to the report released by the Cabinet Office on May 2, 2012, a large number of the people of Japan, which is one of the most developed countries in the world, have suicidal thoughts, Press TV reports. Recession has influenced...